LT. CMDR. McCLUSKY HERO OF THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY
LT. CMDR. McCLUSKY HERO OF THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY
LT. CMDR. McCLUSKY HERO OF THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY
LT. CMDR. McCLUSKY HERO OF THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY
LT. CMDR. McCLUSKY HERO OF THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY
This campaign is closed
LT. CMDR. McCLUSKY HERO OF THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY
South Park High School is raising funds to erect a plaque and create a scholarship in honor of our most highly decorated war hero and South Buffalo native, Rear Admiral C. Wade McClusky. Rear Admiral McClusky during WWII was Lieutenant Commander McClusky a Naval Aviator and hero in the Battle of Midway. On June 4th 1942, Lieutenant Commander McClusky led an air group on a successful and harrowing search for Japanese aircraft carriers. His actions that day earned him the Navy Cross, the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the Navy.
Admiral McClusky attended South Park High School and graduated n 1918 before heading to the Naval Academy. As Principal of South Park High School, I look forward to sharing the brave and sobering story of Rear Admiral McClusky with our students for generations to come. After flying 180 miles to where he believed the Japanese fleet to be on June 4th 1942, no Japanese ships were sighted. Dangerously low on fuel, Lieutenant Commander McClusky had to make a choice: Turn back towards safety or charge forward and risk losing all of his planes at sea. Lieutenant Commander McCluskyu kept going,despite the almost certain possibility that his planes would run out of fuel before being able to return safely to the USS Enterprise.
It was on this extended search that Lieutenant Commander McClusky's squadron found a Japanese destroyer which they followed to the location of multiple Japanese aircraft carriers. Lieutenant Commander McClusky gave attack orders leading to the sinking of the vital Japanese aircraft carriers Kaga and Akagi. Additional Japanese aircraft carriers were also destroyed or disabled as part of the information provided by Lieutenant Commander McClusky. His actions changed the outcome of the Battle of Midway. His heroic act prevented the Japanese navy from reinforcing its attack and allowed for the American forces to engage and win!
Rear Admiral McClusky's story has been recognized in a variety of ways by his hometown of Buffalo, New York, and we look forward to cementing his legacy at South Park High School. the unveiling of the plaque will take place on June 4th, 2017 at 1 PM on the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway.
On behalf of our students, past and present, the Buffalo community, and South Buffalo native Rear Admiral C. Wade McClusky's family, we thank you for your generosity and time.
Donations can be made here or sent directly to South Park High School, Attention Admiral McCulsky Fund, 150 Southside Parkway, Buffalo, NY, 14220